Japan plans to ease sanctions on North Korea, says Abe

Japan plans to lift certain sanctions on North Korea, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said following talks between diplomats of the two sides.

The statement came after North Korea reportedly agreed to start a probe into the abduction of Japanese citizens. Japan believes that operatives of North Korea kidnapped 17 or more Japanese citizens decades earlier.

“Based on the principle to reward an action with an action, I would like to lift a part of sanctions that Japan has taken,” Abe said.